Contract signed for Beatrice Offshore Windfarm
A multi-million pound wind farm’s been signed off on the Cromarty Firth.
A multi-million pound wind farm’s been signed off on the Cromarty Firth.
The 80-turbine project’s been awarded to the Nigg Energy Park fabrication yard and with construction expected to stat, around eight miles off Wick, early next year.
SSE and Siemens will also be involved in the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm development.
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson joined the Business, Innovation and Energy Minister and senior officials from SSE, Siemens and Scottish Renewables at Nigg this morning to witness the signing of the multi million pound contract.
The Highland Council has been a partner with SSE in their open4business initiative since it was established to raise awareness of the supply chain and procurement opportunities that exist with SSE. It is also one of three standing members of Nigg Skills Academy which plays a key role in realising the training and employment potential of workers to the engineering and energy industries so the Highlands can be well placed to benefit from the opportunities that any major development presents
She said: “The Highland Council’s programme places the highest priority on sustainable economic growth and economic recovery which is why over the years we actively campaigned for the redevelopment of Nigg Energy Park and invested directly in it and other strategic industrial sites across the Highlands.
“In addition to the announcement for Nigg today, the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project has created more opportunities within our communities including the £10 million operations and maintenance facility at Wick harbour and with Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd plans to develop an offshore wind site in the Moray Firth, I am sure the associated energy and business services will bring benefits to other Highland ports including those at Inverness, Invergordon, Helmsdale and Scrabster.
“The news today couldn’t have come at a better time as we, like other areas across the country, are seeing a downturn as a result of the lower price of oil, but this is extremely good news for not just the local area but the wider Highlands and for the highly skilled workforce we have now and the new workers that will be trained to support and sustain the emerging renewables industry in the future.”
Lindsay Roberts, Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “The contract signed today will help breathe new life into this Highland port. “Scotland’s offshore wind industry has huge potential for both our economy and our environment, and it’s great to see Nigg reaping the benefits. “As other wind farms with planning consent in the Scottish North Sea begin to develop, agreements like this will play a key role in securing benefits not just for communities on the east coast, but for the whole of Scotland.”
Charlotte Wright, Director of Business and Sector Development, said: “Today’s announcement by Global Energy is great news that emphasises the region’s key role in the international energy sector. We are delighted to have worked with Global to help transform the site into a multi-use modern energy park.
“Our recent significant investment has supported Global Energy to create the crucial deep water facilities at Nigg Energy Park, opening up massive growth opportunities and significant job creation. It’s fantastic to see so much activity at the site, where foundations and anchors for tidal and floating wind projects are currently being fabricated.
This announcement is another step forward in attracting developers in renewable energy and oil and gas from all over the world to the quayside at the Eater Ross yard, and consolidates its position as one of Northern Europe’s finest integrated energy ports. We look forward to working with our partners, the sector as a whole, and individual companies, to ensure the best possible economic outcome for the region from this development.”
Local MSP Gail Ross added: “This is excellent news for which will mark the start of something big for Nigg Port. The offshore renewable Beatrice development always had the opportunity to deliver for the economy of the North and it is beginning to.”
“This announcement follows on from the decision to create a service hub in Wick with the creation of 90 jobs. The signing of this contract for Nigg will allow for new jobs and new skills to area. It is start of something exciting and I look forward to more good news stories associated with this development.”